This past Thursday (11/20/14), the Valley Amateur Radio Association (VARA) in Shelton hosted a discussion about DMR and the new CT ARES DMR System.
The guest presenters were:
Wayne Gronlund (N1CLV) - your ARRL CT Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC).
and
Paul Zitto (N1RHN) - Director, Public Safety Communications, CT DESPP.

DMR IS HOT!
DMR Repeaters seem to be popping up EVERYWHERE.
We are seeing under-utilized (read: quiet) 440 repeaters converting from Analog to Digital.
The CT ARES DMR network is made up of different amateur radio club repeaters as well as individually owned repeaters linked together.
In addition, just as it did in the past with Classic Packet Radio Nodes, and last year with RMS Express Gateways, the W1SP Amateur Radio Club is hosting the CT ARES DMR Network and providing access on several key communication towers around the state.

How to get started
You will want to get the UHF model (440 MHz) for operations in CT.
While you can spend LOTS of money for a beautiful Motorola model with several really cool advanced features, an entry level Dual Mode (Analog/Digital) HT is available for UNDER $200 !

Available from Connect Systems
www.connectsystems.com/products/top/radios%20CS700.htm
You will need to call to place the order
Let me suggest adding an additional battery and a Speaker Microphone to your order.